Defense saves Anderson

Thanks to his glove, outfielder to stay

Before announcing on Friday night that Brian Anderson would remain with the White Sox, the team explored several options.

One was a trade, which was dismissed as too difficult. The others were playing Rob Mackowiak in center or playing Mackowiak in left field and moving left fielder Scott Podsednik to center.

In the end, Anderson's defensive play won out.

"We decided to keep this kid," manager Ozzie Guillen said after Friday's 5-4 victory in which Anderson made a game-saving catch in the eighth inning. "This ballclub was built on pitching and defense. I believe in our philosophy. We're going to stay with him. I'll make the lineup out as best I can.

"Right now, I think the kid is our future. I think he can play at this level, I think we can win with this kid and we're going to take a chance with him until he can't play here anymore."

"Can Mackowiak play center field every day? I don't think he can. I wish he could. That's not his job. His job is to play all around. That's why I told Brian we need you to play good to make our team better."

How about moving Podsednik from left to center and playing Mackowiak or Pablo Ozuna in left? He played center with the Milwaukee Brewers.

"Did you see Podsednik play center field?" Guillen said. "The Brewers were in last place two years in a row. He can play left field on a world championship team. I don't think he can play center field.

"I don't think Podsednik can play center field [well enough] to win a championship. I don't think he's a bad center fielder. [But] it's a little different playing center field for the Milwaukee Brewers two years ago and playing center field for a championship team."

Anderson is by far the best defender of the group, almost as good as the departed Aaron Rowand.

Meanwhile, one person close to the situation scoffed at rumors Rowand would return to the South Side from Philadelphia, where he was traded for Jim Thome.

"The fans would revolt," the person said.

It is believed Williams is seeking a right-handed-hitting fill-in center fielder, but the names are few, and most teams would like to wait until closer to the July 31 trade deadline.